Broncos running back Willis McGahee is brought down by Dolphins strong safety Yeremiah Bell during the first quarter. <a href="http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/10/photos-broncos-vs-dolphins-sunday-october-23-2011/"><b>More photos from the Broncos’ win Sunday.</b></a>

The Broncos continued to express optimism their leading rusher, Willis McGahee, will be available for Sunday’s game in Oakland.

McGahee, who fractured a bone in his right hand against the Dolphins and had surgery to insert a plate and screws soon after, practiced on a limited basis for the second consecutive day Thursday.

Broncos head coach John Fox has said if McGahee shows this week he can protect himself and the ball with that right hand, he will play against the Raiders.

“Willis will be fine,” Fox said following Thursday’s practice. “He’s obviously getting used to healing a broken hand and still play football. Our medical people take good care of it and he seems to be real comfortable with it and had another good outing today.”

McGahee was limited in Wednesday’s practice, and coach John Fox said McGahee’s playing status for Sunday’s game will depend on the running back’s pain tolerance.

Fox added it’s largely a pain issue at this point for McGahee, who wore a glove, with a wrap, during practice.

“It shouldn’t be a factor,” Fox said. “There’ll be some pain, but like I said before he’s a tough player, he’s done it before and we have all the confidence in the world he’ll be just fine.”

McGahee has the Broncos” three 100-yard rushing games this season and leads the team with 460 rushing yards.

The Broncos had little success running the ball against the Raiders in the season opener, when Knowshon Moreno was the starter. The team had just 38 yards on 13 carries — with McGahee totaling three yards on four carries.

But McGahee, who took over as the starter in Week 2 when Moreno was injured, had three 100-yard performances in four games, and was on his way to a fifth, before suffering the broken hand early in the third quarter against Miami on Oct. 23.

The only three players who remain out for the Broncos are safety Quinton Carter (concussion), cornerback Cassius Vaughn (hamstring) and tight end Virgil Green (neck). All three players were on the field to watch practice today.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.